Chelsea proposed a new contract for Antonio Rudiger last summer that would have seen him earn less than Ruben Loftus-Cheek. The Blues look set to lose the 29-year-old centre-half this summer when his contract runs out.
Chelsea did not agree a new deal with him before sanctions were imposed on owner Roman Abramovich, and they cannot discuss fresh terms with him currently due to the ongoing nature of the UK government's restrictions.
Club chiefs tried to negotiate a new deal for Rudiger last summer - but their only offer appeared as something of an 'insult'.
The former Roma man was - and still is - one of the club's lowest-paid players, earning £90,000 a week. According to The Athletic, he was offered a contract that would have seen him earn less than Loftus-Cheek, who pockets £150,000 a week.
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